Systemic neurodegeneration and involvement of astroglial cells in Parkinson's disease.

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In this study, we revealed that GFAP-positive glial cells were distributed along the myenteric plexus in the ileum and ascending colon of rotenone-chronically treated rats, preceding central dopaminergic neurodegeneration, suggesting possible involvement of enteric glial cells in rotenone-induced cytotoxicity of enteric neuronal cells which precedes neurodegeneration in central nervous system. Using primary cultured cells, we also proposed a possible involvement of some molecules secreted from rotenone-treated mesencephalic astroglia in rotenone-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity, and revealed that metallothionein could protect dopaminergic neurons against rotenone toxicity.